Y’know how sometimes the dumbest thing ever can be hysterically funny, particularly when someone else finds that same dumb thing inexplicably funny?
And how the harder you try to maintain composure, the funnier that stupid thing may seem, until the both of you dissolve in giggles with tears streaming down your cheeks and soda shooting out of your nose?
That’s what it’s like spending time with my friend, Sharee.
She and I took a trip to Los Angeles with my mom and Handsome Greg a coupla years ago, and we savored every opportunity to embarrass them (and ourselves) with our mindless, uncontrollable laughter.
Sharee has since become a most dignified photographer, and she recently sent me these gorgeous photos of her favorite lentil soup, along with the mouth-watering recipe.
Based on the pics, you’d think food photography was her specialty, but she’s actually focused more on maternity, baby, and family portraits.
Check out her portfolio here.
Shoot her an email if you’re looking for a Twin Cities photographer to capture the most beautiful moments in your life. Or if you just need someone to snort root beer with.
Continue reading for the Hearty Lentil Soup recipe
- 3-6 slices bacon, chopped up into little pieces
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2-4 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2-4 celery ribs, chopped
- 2 cups mushrooms, chopped
- 1 can diced, fire-roasted tomatoes (DO NOT drain!)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
- 1 cup green lentils, rinsed and picked over
- 1 baking potato, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 sweet potato, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Ground black pepper
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 3 cans low-salt chicken broth
- 1 cup water, more or less
- 1½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar (you’ll be missing out if you skip this part!)
- Fry bacon in large stockpot or dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until fat is rendered and bacon is crispy
- Add onion, carrots, celery, and mushrooms, until vegetables begin to soften
- Add potatoes and garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds
- Stir in tomatoes, bay leaves, and thyme, cook until fragrant, 30 seconds
- Stir in lentils, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until vegetables are softened and lentils have darkened, 8-10 minutes
- Uncover, increase heat to high, add wine, and bring to simmer
- Add chicken broth and water, bring to boil, cover partially, and reduce heat to low
- Simmer until lentils and potatoes are tender, but still hold their shape, 30-35 minutes; discard bay leaves
- Puree 3 cups of soup in a blender until smooth, then return to pot or just use an immersion blender
- Stir in vinegar
Linked to: Sweet Details, Mrs. Happy Homemaker, 2 Maids-a-Milking, Flour Me with Love, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, Sweet Spot, My Favorite Finds, Southern Fairytale, Things that make you say Mmmmm, Sweetology, Mom’s Crazy Cooking, Nap Time Creations, Crazy for Crust, Chef in Training, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, It’s a Blog Party, 33 Shades of Green, King’s Court IV, Lil’ Luna, Southern Product Queen, Newlyweds, Mandy’s Recipe Box, Lady Behind the Curtain, Junk in Their Trunk, Made Famous By, This Chick Cooks, Creations by Kara, Gooseberry Patch, Eat at Home, Mrs. Fox’s Sweets, A Little Nosh, Food Trip Friday, It’s a Keeper, Bizzy Bakes, Something Swanky, Hear the Bells, Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, Alli ‘n Sons, Not Your Ordinary Recipes, Tidy Mom, Country Cook, Jennifer Cooks, Sweet as Sugar Cookies, Crumbs and Chaos, Be Different, Act Normal, My Sweet and Savory, Feeding Four, Addicted to Recipes
This looks so so good and pretty!!! Thanks for linking!!!
The lentil soup looks delicious, homey and comforting, great photos!
<3
Thanks so much for your recipe, and your gorgeous photos, Darlin’!
Your Lentil Soup will be a big hit here. The combination of flavor for this recipe is awesome! Hope you are having a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Miz Helen
Have not made a soup like this before.. Thank you for sharing the recipe..
Visiting for FTF- hope you can stop by:)
http://myrecipecollection.info/2012/02/peanut-butter-banana-mousse.html
This soup looks and sound amazing! My family loves lentil soup and I must try this recipe and I love the idea of adding balsamic vinegar
I have a cooking blog myself and would love for you to stop by anytime!
The balsamic vinegar totally makes it! Don’t skip it. I hope you love this soup.
This looks delicious! New twitter follower from the Things that make you say Mmm…hop. I co-host the Creative Corner Hop every Monday. Feel free to stop by and link up. It will be open all week.
Sandy
Cherished Handmade Treasures
Mmmm this lentil soup looks wonderful! I loooove lentil soup, one of my favorites! Such a comforting and satisfying meal!
I’d love to have a bowl, it looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday
Such pretty colors!! Looks wonderful!! Thanks for sharing!
This sounds amazing! I love lentils. Thanks so much for linking up to THings That Make You Say Mmmmm!
This soup looks wonderful! I will be featuring it tomorrow at whole foods Wednesday. Thanks for linking up
Thanks, Katie! I really appreciate it.
Lentils are also commonly used in Ethiopia in a stew-like dish called kik, or kik wot, one of the dishes people eat with Ethiopia’s national food, injera flat bread. Yellow lentils are used to make a nonspicy stew, which is one of the first solid foods Ethiopian women feed their babies.:–^
http://www.caramoanpackage.comCatch ya later